Tag: national security launch
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Space Force Shifts Six National Security Launches to SpaceX as Vulcan Stays Grounded
Vulcan has been grounded since February 12, 2026, when a solid rocket booster anomaly occurred during the USSF-87 mission. The rocket reached orbit, but one of its Northrop Grumman GEM 63XL boosters suffered a visible nozzle failure shortly after liftoff, prompting a comprehensive technical review. Because this was the second nozzle-related irregularity in four flights,…
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Space Force NSSL Ceiling Hits $30B After Lane 1 Triple
Is $30 Billion Enough for the Space Force’s Launch Appetite? The US Space Force tripled the ceiling on its National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 contract to $17 billion on Friday, July 18, 2026 — pushing the combined maximum value of NSSL Phase 3 past $30 billion when added to the Lane 2…